Facts about Busing

• 6,231students who attend a school of choice through the district's magnet school International Baccalaureate
• 3,500 students who live more than 2.5 miles from their neighborhood school
• 4,100 students who live less than 2.5 miles from school who are transported due to hazardous walking conditions
• 1,630 whose special education IEP's call for transportation
• 260 students who participate in the chlice Plan (No Child Left Beind)
• 1,630 students to special (ESOL) English Speakers of Other Languages programs and
• 81 students who reside outside the Wichita Public School district.

The Wichita Public Schools are reimbursed by the state:

• 83 percent of the cost to transport regular education students living 2.5 miles or more from school
• 80 percent of the cost to transport special education students
• No reimbursement is received for students who live less than 2.5 miles from school or reside outside of USD 259 boundaries.

The budget for 2005-2006 regular education trnasportation is $10.6 million. Special education transportation costs total $9.2 million. 

The cost of regular education transportation is less than 2.5 percent of the district's entire budget.  The non-reimbursed portion is less than one percent of the total budget.

Federal and state law requires special education transportation for students identified as needing transportation to meet their individual education plan.

Without the help of state aid, the district pays approximately $2 million annualy for students who are transported less than 2.5 miles for safety reasons, hazardous walking conditions, the English Speakers of Other Languages program and other services defined by board policy.

Student transportation benefits families.  Providing transportation gives families educational choice.